We entered the subway control center, where everything was the exact opposite of control. Warnings and alarms blared and flashed on every screen. We met with the subway bosses and gave them our report.
"So all that has been happening is because of Team Rocket!" Emmet said.
"If all the trains have stopped, shouldn't that keep the ghost train from going anywhere?" Iris said.
"If only that were so..." Ingo bowed his head.
"They can still use the connecting lines!" Cilan said. "That must be how Team Rocket is able to go anywhere they please!"
"Indeed. But even though we are unable to find where the ghost train is, we do know that because of the connecting lines, Team Rocket can't get to where they want to go..."
"Look!" Emmet said, pointing to the digital map in the center of the room. "Even with the connecting lines, Team Rocket has to pass through the D3 point no matter what!"
"Then we'll set up an ambush right there!" Iris said. "But how would we get there fast enough?"
"By using the mail-carrier cart!" Ingo said.
"Good idea, Ingo!" Emmet said.
"I'm going with you!" Ash said.
"But Ash, it's too dangerous!"
"I want to help those Pokémon!"
"I'm going too!" I said.
"Me too!" Iris and Cilan said.
Ingo and Emmet stared at us, then smiled and nodded
"All right." Ingo said. "I'll guide you through."
We ran through the underground tracks to the mail-carrier cart.
"Leave the driving to me!" Cilan said. He pulled out subway hat from his backpack and placed it on his head.
"I have to go and repair the ATO so that passengers can get to the stations." Ingo said. He handed Cilan a map of the subway and a walkie-talkie. "Be careful."
"All right." The two saluted and Cilan turned on the cart. "All aboard! Let's go!"
We zoomed off into the subway. As we maneuvered through the tracks, we helped Cilan in changing the tracks so we went down the right way.
"We're almost to the D3 point!" Cilan said.
As we drove, we could see something in front of us.
"Cilan, it's the ghost train!" I said.
We caught up to it so we were right behind it.
"I'm going over there!" Ash said.
"But Ash-!" Iris said.
Ash climbed on the edge of the mail cart and jumped. He landed on the train, but it caved like a waterbed.
"What happening?!" Ash said.
I noticed something flickering at the bottom of the train. Two red lights flashed rapidly before the train exploded, sending pink powder everywhere. Ash flew back into Cilan. His arms jerked the steering wheel and the mail cart derailed. We fell out and landed on the ground.
"A decoy..." Ash said.
"Then where's the real ghost train?" Iris said.
"Cilan, come in." a voice said. It was Emmet, and it was coming from a walkie-talkie from the cart. Cilan rushed over and picked it up.
"I'm here, Emmet!" he said.
"How are you at stopping Team Rocket?"
"Not good. We ran into a decoy and the mail cart derailed and jumped the tracks!"
"Then... what's heading for the D3 point?"
"Huh?" we said.
We looked to see the headlights of a train heading our way. As it passed by us, things turned into slow motion as we saw Jessie, James, and Meowth smirking at us from the control panel. They zoomed away.
"Oh no! They're going to get away!" Cilan said.
"Don't worry, Cilan." Emmet said. "As long as our sensor system's working, we're able to keep an eye on the real ghost train."
Suddenly, a cry was heard from the other line.
"What happened?!" Cilan said.
"There... there are SEVERAL ghost trains! They just appeared!" Ingo said.
"More decoys?!" Ash said.
"Then which one do we go after?" Iris said.
Realization washed over me and I cried out. "The symbol!"
"What?"
"The Team Rocket symbol on the decoy trains are different from the real one!"
"So does that mean we're going to have to check every train?" Iris said.
"Our Pokémon are counting on us!" I said.
Another train passed by us for the 4th time.
"Was that a decoy?" Ash said.
"I don't know!" Iris cried. "I'm tired of this!"
"It could be possible that Team Rocket is now out of the subway loop." Cilan said. "They may already be above ground."
"I always thought subways stayed below ground." Ash said. "But I never figured out how they got underground in the first place."
Cilan epiphanized. "Ash, you're a genius! If we find where the ghost train entered, that's the exit!"
"It is most likely that the ghost train entered through the Anville Town rail yard." Ingo said through the walkie-talkie. "In fact, it's headed back there right now! We're going to come to you!"
~ZORUA~
With every Thunderbolt and Iron Tail, Pikachu didn't seem to make any progress with getting out of his cage.
"It's no use!" Pikachu said.
"What are we going to do?!" Axew said. Tears welled up in his eyes.
I growled in frustration, but then I got an idea.
"Look around you!" I said. "We're surrounded by Pokémon! If we can find the others, they can help us get out of here!"
"Great idea, Zorua!" Pikachu said.
He scanned the craters until he spotted Snivy's PokéBall. He used Electro Ball to get it open.
"Whoa! What happened to you guys?!" Snivy said.
"No time to explain, Snivy. Use your Vine Whip to find Excadrill!" Pikachu said.
Snivy nodded and two vines came out of her collar. They sifted through the crater and came back out with Excadrill's PokéBall. She pressed the button and he came out.
"What in the-?!" he said.
"Excadrill, please get us out of here!" I said.
Excadrill used Metal Claw and broke us out of the cages. Pikachu used Iron Tail on the door again, but still to no avail. Axew used Dragon Rage. Nothing. Snivy jumped to a crater and brought out Pansage and the two Leavannies.
"Guys, help us get the door open!" Pikachu said.
Pansage used Bullet seed, then the two Leavannies used Hyper Beam. Still nothing.
"Wait, guys!" I said. "Instead of taking turns, we all need to attack the door at the same time!"
Snivy brought out Dwebble. All at once, we attacked the door with all we had: my Shadow Ball, Pikachu's Electro Ball, Axew's Dragon Rage, Excadrill's Focus Blast, Pansage's Bullet Seed, Leavanny's double Hyper Beam, and Snivy's Leaf Story. The door burst open.
"It worked!" I said.
We cheered. Pikachu ran over to the door. The door across from us opened and there was Meowth.
"Rylee was right!" I said. "You lied to all of us!"
"Why you...!" Pikachu growled. Sparks flew off the red spots of its cheeks.
Meowth chuckled. "It's too late. It's the end of the line for you chumps!" The train zoomed into broad daylight. "Don't bother jumpin', and you ain't gettin' no help from your twerp trainers either. You're on a one-way ticket to Boss land!" Meowth said.
Pikachu shot Thunderbolt at Meowth, but he closed the door. Pikachu growled. Snivy brought out Tepig and Roggenrola.
"Everyone, use your power to break the connector!" Pikachu said.
We did just that, adding with Tepig's Ember and Roggenrola's Flash Cannon. Meowth opened the door again.
"Huh?!" he cried when he saw what we were doing.
The connector broke and we began to drift from Team Rocket.
"You're not goin' anywhere!" Meowth said.
"Pikachu, up ahead!" I said.
There was a railroad track switcher. Snivy used her Vine Whip and changed it. The tracks changed and we zoomed in the other direction so we were side-by-side with Team Rocket. Team Rocket stopped and went back to the switcher. They switched the tracks and came after us. We jumped to the top of the train. Along with Team Rocket, a large helicopter came into view. I could see the giant claw attached to the bottom of it.
Rylee, please hurry!
~RYLEE~
We waited in the subway, but there wasn't any sign of Ingo and Emmet. I clenched my fist as my patience shriveled up as quickly as a fuse in Looney Tunes.
"I've had enough!" I cried. "I'm done with Team Rocket! I won't let them take my Pokémon! I'm going ahead and after them!"
"But Rylee, you won't get to Anville Town in time on foot!" Cilan said.
"I never said on foot."
I reached up to my necklace and unclipped the PokéBall. I pressed the button and it enlarged to its actual size.
My friends cried out.
"That's a REAL PokéBall?!" Ash said.
"I knew Team Rocket had something planned." I said. "They know about Zorua and Leavanny, but no one knows about my third Pokémon."
I threw the PokéBall up into the air. It opened and out came my Pokémon: Articuno.
Everyone stared in disbelief as I climbed onto Articuno's back.
"Let's go. Zorua's in danger." I said to her. I turned to everyone. "You guys can stay here and wait for Ingo and Emmet, but I'm not going to let Team Rocket get away with my Pokémon."
Articuno let out a shrill cry and we zipped down the subway tracks. We maneuvered through the underground until we reached the light of the outside.
"We should be close." I said. "There!"
I saw Team Rocket's train split in two, with the back-end zooming beyond the front. All our Pokémon stood on top of the second car. A giant Team Rocket helicopter hovered above the two cars.
"Zorua! Leavanny! You guys!" I called.
"Rylee!" Zorua said. Her eyes widened at the sight of Articuno.
I hopped off of Articuno and onto the train roof. I looked up to the Team Rocket helicopter. Inside I could see an old man with white hair and a monocle, who I recognized from my vision. He saw me and smirked.
Well, well... if it isn't Brand's daughter...
I gasped. How does this man know my father?
A claw came out of the helicopter and at us.
"Oh no, you don't! You're not taking these Pokémon!" I said.
I stretched my hand out and a shield of Protect unveiled around us like a dome. I looked at the train and I noticed something else coming our way. It was a small cart that zoomed on the opposite tracks beside us. The mail cart. Riding in it were the subway bosses, Iris, Ash, and Cilan.
"Guys!" I called.
The helicopter claw crashed against the Protect and it shattered. I cried out and fell against the roof.
"Rylee!" I looked to see Cilan, Iris, and Ash floating over to the train car by Ingo's Chandelure using Psychic.
"Are you all right?" Iris said.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What took you so long?" I said.
"We need to get rid of that cargo hook." Cilan said, helping me up.
"Roggenrola, use Flash Cannon! Tepig, use Ember!"
Roggenrola and Tepig used their moves on the tracks behind us. We zoomed forward. Axew used its Dragon Rage and we sped up faster. The helicopter started gaining on us.
"Oh no!" Iris said.
"Look!" Cilan said.
There was another track switcher. Pansage used Bullet Seed and we went to the other tracks, but the helicopter stayed hot on our trail.
"It's no use! We're going to get caught at some point!" Cilan said.
"We just need to get rid of the helicopter." I said. An idea hatched on my face. "Leave that to me. Ash, focus on speeding up the train."
I ran to the end of the car and jumped. Articuno came flying after me. She grabbed my arm with her talons, spun me around, and hurled me towards the helicopter. For a moment, I suspended in the air, slightly above the helicopter. I looked down to see my body glowing green. I stretched my hand out and a ball of energy formed and launched towards the helicopter's propellers. They shattered on impact. As I fell down, I extended my other hand and a beam of red and white energy escaped from it and destroyed the cargo hook. I crossed my arms over my chest like a mummy as Articuno flew underneath me and I landed on her soft back.
"Thanks." I said. "That could've ended badly."
Articuno took me back to my friends on top of the train car. They watched in awe as the helicopter swerved away. Smoke billowed from the top and bottom. Their astonished eyes landed on me.
"That was incredible!" Zorua cried.
"That was AncientPower and Hyper Beam!" Cilan said.
I smiled at them briefly before fixing my eyes on the pilot train car heading our way.
"One Team Rocket member down, three to go." I said.
Axew, Tepig, and Roggenrola sped up the car again with their moves. Tepig's Ember strengthened through Ash's inspiration and he learned Flamethrower. Ingo's Chandelure approached Team Rocket's car and used Will-O-Wisp on it. It short-circuited. The top blew off, and Jessie, James, and Meowth stood on its roof.
"Meowth!" Ash said. "You had us all fooled!"
"I told you," I said. "once a member of Team Rocket, always a member of Team Rocket."
"This ain't over!" Meowth hissed.
Pikachu's cheeks flickered, ready to blast the snot out of the traitorous puffball, but James pressed a button on a remote and the train exploded. The damaged helicopter flew away, with the three Team Rocket members following it on their jetpacks. We watched them escape in silence.
"And to think... Team Rocket came up with such a bold and clever plan." Cilan finally said.
"And it almost succeeded..." I said. "If they can come up with this, then who knows what else they're capable of?"
~THIRD PERSON POV~
"To think, we were so close." Dr. Zager said from the pilot seat of the helicopter. Jessie, James, and Meowth sat in three chairs behind them. The air reflected their frustrated pouts.
"Quitting while you're ahead is important too." Jessie said, crossing her arms.
"We'll just have to come up with another plan." Meowth said, mimicking Jessie.
"Looks like Operation Decoy is a failure..." James said.
"Is it?" Dr. Zager turned around to look at the three Team Rocket members. "Do you recall one of the lasses on the train roof? The one with the Articuno?"
"Yeah, that twerp's name is Rylee." Meowth said. "What about her?"
"I already know her name. Rylee Runyon. Daughter of Brand Runyon: also known as the legendary Pokémon, Reshiram."
"Huh?!" Jessie, James, and Meowth jumped to the edge of their seats.
"Really?" Jessie said.
"That explains it!" Meowth said. "I remember when she talked to a Purrloin like it was an old buddy of hers! She understood it!"
"Does that mean... she's a Pokémon?" James said.
"Indeed." Dr Zager said. A smile twitched under his mustache. "That child holds tremendous power inside of her. Power that could be useful to Team Rocket."
The other three members smiled and sat back in their seats.
~RYLEE~
"Oh my!" Cilan squealed. He ran to the edge of the balcony to gaze at the array of subway trains below us. Emmet and Ingo brought us to Anville Town's rail yard, and all of the stolen PokéBalls were returned to Nimbasa City's Pokémon Center.
"Subway service is completely restored." Ingo said. "Thank you all for your help. We couldn't have done it without you."
"That's good to know." Iris said. "I'm so glad everything worked out okay!"
"Now I can finally have my gym battle!" Ash said.
"Good luck to you then." Emmet said. "Elesa's tough, but I'm sure that you'll be able to beat her."
The subway bosses went back to the cart to wait for us.
"So, I'm confused." I said, crossing my arms.
"About what?" Cilan said.
"What I did back with the helicopter. As you all know, I'm able to use Protect, Heal Pulse, and Heal Bell. That's three moves." I said. "But then earlier today, I used AncientPower and Hyper Beam, which comes to FIVE Pokémon moves, when a Pokémon can only have four."
"Well, that is the case for Pokémon, but it's special for you." Zorua said. "Remember your dad telling you that you're half-Pokémon?"
"Of course. He told me I could also transform into a Pokémon like he can."
"Well, instead of using five total moves, you actually used two moves from your Pokémon self and three moves from your human self." Zorua said. "From your human self, you know Heal Pulse, Protect, and Heal Bell, and from your Pokémon self you know AncientPower, Hyper Beam, and another move you can use is Giga Impact, which you haven't master yet."
"So that means I can learn a total of eight moves." I said. "That still leaves two more moves."
"Maybe you'll learn the rest during your journey." Cilan said.
"Exactly!" Zorua said.
"That's enough for today's lesson!" Ash said. "Nimbasa Gym, here we come!"